PCO/Taxi Medical

What’s needed for the Medical Examination and Eye Test?

Please bring

• TPH/204 Medical Declaration Form (PCO applicants) or relevant Medical Assessment Form to be completed
• Driving licence with counterpart
• Glasses along with opticians prescription (if used)
• Medical summary/history if you are registered with a NHS GP (if not we can register you on site with our private GPs)

What does the Medical Examination involve?

You should bring the TPH/204 Medical Declaration Form (PCO applicants) or relevant Medical Assessment Form, with the first section already filled in by you, to your GP appointment. You will be required to give a urine sample as they will be testing for diabetes. The examination will only take around 30 minutes and you will be asked questions about the following topics:

• cardiovascular
• endocrine system
• musculoskeletal
• neurological
• psychiatric
• vision

Based on your answers and the results of the tests the doctor will give his opinion as to whether you satisfy the DVLA Group 2 medical standards and will complete the remainder of the TPH/204 Medical Declaration Form (PCO applicants) or relevant Medical Assessment Form , sign it, and put their stamp on it. You will then need to send this form back with your PCO licence application.

Medical requirements for applicants aged 45 and aged 65 and over.

If you are aged 45 or over and you are completing a new application for a PCO-Licence (or even in the case of a PCO-Licence renewal), you must undergo a medical examination (Form TPH/204 must be completed). A medical examination will need to be undertaken at each subsequent renewal of your licence between the age of 45 up to the age of 65.

If you are age 65 or over you will also (as a condition of licence issue) be required to undergo annual medical examinations, during the currency of your licence.

Exemptions from Medical Declaration, Changes to Visual Acuity, What Condition can Impact my PCO Application?

1. If you possess a valid DVLA Group 2 licence or are actively studying the Knowledge (and under 45 years of age), or already licensed by TfL as a MHC (‘taxi’) driver, you do not need to submit a completed Medical Declaration as you are deemed ‘exempt’.
2. Some professions require an in-depth medical to be undertaken (e.g. pilot’s licence). Medical advice has been sought and confirmation received that the standard of medical fitness required by the Civil Aviation Authority meets the requirements of the TPH and as such TfL has agreed to grant the exemption. To retain the exemption the applicant in question will have to continue to produce a valid, current pilot’s licence issued by the Joint Aviation Authorities whenever TfL requests a further medical.
3. After 1 January 1998, any driver who holds a DVLA Group 2 full or provisional licence would have already had a medical prior to being granted this entitlement. This entitlement will be shown on the driver’s DVLA driving licence. Any drivers who have this entitlement after 1 January 1998 will not have to complete a Medical Declaration.

​​DVLA Group 2 Medical Standards Changes in Standard of Visual Acuity.

​On the 2^nd of April 2013, the DVLA revised the visual acuity standard for holders of Group 2 licences.

The new standard is as follows:

• A visual acuity, using corrective lenses if necessary, of at least 6/7.5 in the better eye and at least 6/60 in the other eye. Where glasses are worn to meet the minimum standards, they should have a corrective power of less than or equal to +8 dioptres. There is no uncorrected requirement.
• It is also necessary for all drivers of Group 2 vehicles to be able to meet the prescribed and relevant Group 1 visual acuity requirements.
• In assessing whether an applicant for a PHV driver’s licence is medically fit, TfL has regard to the medical standard that would apply in relation to a DVLA Group 2 licence. Therefore any applicant applying for a taxi or PHV driver’s licence after 31 October 2012 will be required to meet the new Group 2 standard.

Drivers who were originally licensed under lower standards are allowed to retain these entitlements under ‘grandfather rights’. The standard applied is determined by the date a PHV driver was first licensed.

Retaining this entitlement is dependent on:

• The driver remaining continuously licensed since he or she was first licensed;
• There being no significant deterioration in any other aspects of the driver’s vision;
• The driver not having been involved in an accident in the preceding 10 years, in which their eyesight might have been a factor; and
• The driver meeting all of the current Group 1 acuity standards.
• The Group 2 standards are set out in full in the DVLA publication ‘At a Glance Guide to the Current Medical Standards of Fitness to Drive’ that can be found at www.dft.gov.uk/dvla

What medical conditions could affect my PCO application?

There are no definitive yes or no’s to what medical conditions could prevent you from passing this examinations but if you have any of the ailments listed below then it’s highly likely that your PCO licence application will be refused.

• Epilepsy
• Insulin treated/insulin dependent diabetes
• Monocular or poor vision
• A progressive degenerative illness
• A history of alcohol or drug abuse
• A history of mental illness or severe mental handicap
• A physical disability which might impair the ability to discharge the requirements of a vocational driver
• Heart problems
• Neurological or neurosurgical disorders (.e.g. strokes, blackouts, head injuries)
• Certain prescribed medications.

Please be aware that if you have suffered some of the above medical conditions in the past and you don’t suffer from them at present and this over a certain period of time (to be decided by the TfL medical advisors) then you may still pass this examination. For example, if you have had a stroke over a year ago, as long as there are no residual impairments you may be ruled fit but each case is dealt with on an individual basis.

If you are worried about any medical problems and whether they will affect your licence entitlement please feel free to e-mail or telephone us for advice.